Spread the Word Join or contribute to an environmental organization. - -

Share your concern with friends. Talk to them ' and get them involved.

Replace the gas tank cap tightly to prevent the escape of gasoline vapors from the fuel tank, which causes air pollution. -

If you change your bwn oil, recycle it at a motor oil collection center. ';

Place a sun shade-under your car's windshield. During the summer, this keeps your car cooler,

- 'and saves air conditioning use.-Doing this - year round protects the interior of your car.

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Use a car litter bag for your trash. Don't throw ,

trash from your car onto streets'pr highways!

' Remember cigarette butts are litter. Use your ashtray. Empty ashtrays into trash containers or

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Replace missing or cracked gas caps with the in car litter bags. A cigarette filter takes 15 years

/ model designed for your car. to biodegrade.

. , Refuel vehicles in the evening when the gasoke iUY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ l ~ d - ~ ~ ~ jmar+ vapors won't mix with heat and sunlight to create air pollution; 1 Buy products in aluminum cans when possible;

they contain An average of 50% recycled material.

Check tire pressure frequently (at least Glass bottle packaging contains an monthly) to improve your gas mileage. average of 30% recycled material: When Get a tune-up. A well-tuned car uses up given an option, choose glass bottle to 9% less gas than packaging. a poorly tuned Recycle your motor oil. The oil you vehicle. recycle is re-refined and then sold as

usable oil.

?I.# Use durable shopping bags or reuse ; Don't top off your gas tank. This releases excess

bags when shopping. gasoline vapors into the air, causing air pollution. It can also damage your car.

\ - . . Saving Energy ' ~ o n ' t buy a higher octane gas than' your engine .

needs (higher octane fuels are using tl n Close your blinds and curtains on summer days.

more crude oil than other gasolines). This will keep solar heat out and will act as u

additional insulation. Limit your car warm-ups to 30 seconds.

$3 Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator. This saves ; Support businesses close to home. You'll not cooking time and energy. (It helps the refrigerator

only support your own community, but bargains ' cool with less energy too.) ! at moie distant stores might actually cost

CHOOSE N.,,-"c".,l

more when you add in transportation i If you use a self-cleaning oven, clean after

costs. I using it, to take advantage of ;he residual -4 EXCELLENCE heat.

For waste reduction and recycling iriformation or to volunteer, call 8 16-531 - 1087 or 1-888-895-3605 or +isit

www.environ-excellence.org. - ,

Wash clothes in cold Gates.

Don't cook with the oven door open, it wastes energy, and is unsafe.

When using the clothes dryer, add loads consecutively to make use of the residual heat.

For optimum comfort and energy conservation, use these recommended thermostat settings: winter 68°F (day) and 55°F (night), summer 78°F.

I Use natural sunlight for lighting when possible; direct sunlight is 100 times better than a strong reading lamp. ,

Better Maintenance & Cleaning If you'se repainting, use a bright, reflective color for your walls. A white wall reflects 80% of the. light that hits it while a black wall only reflects 10%.

Use vinegar and water as an every day glass cleaner and to clean car windshields in the summer. Consider using old newspapers instead of paper towels on your windows.

Use sponges and cleaning rags rather than paper towels.

Hang your wet laundry outside on a In the Kitchen

clothes line or on an Use cloth napkins at the table and sponges or rags for clean-up. ,

- indoor drying rack instead of using a Use reusable plates, tableware, glasses and

dryer. his saves energy and your cups rather than disposable. j

clothes smell fresher too! , , Use reusable containers to store food rather than plastic wrap or disposable plastic bags. Set your refrigerator temperatures correctly (if

it's just 10°F colder than necessary, you use 25% Compost vegetable scraps (not meat and more energy). The freezer should be set'between dairy products) with yard waste for great

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0 and 5°F. The refrigerator should be set organic compost. between 38 and 42°F.

ep your refrigerator and lfreezer as full as Backyard Wildlife possible because food retains cold better than air. I Learn the food and vegetation preferences of

Before placing leftovers in the refrigerator, let native wildlife that you wish to attract.

them cool first to_ save energy. Select plants that produce food for the wildlife

I I ~nstall'an insulation blanket on your hot water that you wish to attract. .

heater, and consider insulating the pipes leaving Place bird fdeders in your yard. the tank (foam sleeves and adhesive-backed

Woo wildlife with water. Purchase a birdbath to foam tape are available in most hardware stores).

provide birds with water. Be sure to keep it clean ut your home's thermostat on a timer, and use a bird bath heater in the winter.

the house is heated and cooled only -when necessary.

m off lights and appliances in areas Place a layer of mulch arenit being used. around trees and plants.

Use compact fluorescent bulbs in your 'This will slow the -

light fixtures. Compact fluorescents use evaporation of moisture. 75% less energy than incandescent Water YOU. lawn only bulbs and last ten times longer. when necessary- most

lawns only need 1 inch. of water per week. To avoid evaporation from ahernoon sun and disease from evening dampness, water in the early morning.

In Your Yard - Shopping Wisely -

Mow your lawn in the evening when the mower emissions won't interact with heat and sunlight to create air pollution. .

Avoid purchasing and using products with:

ChloroflourocBrbons (CFCs)-foam insulation, foam packaging, aerosol dust removers, etc.

Deep soak your lawn. A light sirinkling can HCFCs-polystyrene (#6 plastics). evaporate quickly make sure you water long enough for the moisture tb soak down to the Methyl chloroform-found in many home

roots. products, especially aerosol cans.

Avoid pesticide use b; learning about natural , Freon'a type of CFC, a coolant.

insect controls. pesticides kill beneficial as well as nuisance pests, and contaminate storm water, which runs off your property. - . Grass-cycle: set your mower blades so that grass is cut about 2-3 inches tall. When grass is cut short; soil dries out more quickly, requirin~ more water. Leave the grass clippings on ;he lawn; not only will this prc5vide mulch for your lawn, but this will also help reduce water evaporation from the soil.

Compost your yard waste.

Buy in bulk or in refillable containers to reduce packaging waste and save money.

Buy products that are packaged in containers that are locally recyclable. For example, buy canned soup rather than instant which is often over-packaged in non-recyclable materials.

' Buy products with less packaging. I ' -

When buying produce, try to buy locally grown, seasonal produce to reduce transportation energy usage. Buying organically grown produce supports the market for pesti2ide;free agriculture.

Use cat litter made from recycled newspapers- or try the nek clumping kiity litters. You scoop only what's been used making the litter last longer.

Reusing

Your Pets Buy pet food in bulk. Some dry food is sold in open bins, which reduces packaging

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considerably.

Use old plastic bowls as kitty litter scoops, food scoops, and food and water dishes.

Use the small plastic bags your morning paper comes in as a "glove" when cleaning up after your dog when you walk hirnlher.

Use durable shopping bags or reuse '

paper bags when shopping.

Even though they're often "free," a second set of prints when having film developed creates waste if you don't share the second set.

Reuse bread bags and grocery store produce bags to store ,food and other items at home.

Reuse paper bags to line your trash can instead of plastic liners.

+ ( Save coat hangers and return them to the cleaners or donate them to Goodwill.

"uy used clothing, furniture, books, equipment, etc. from secondhand, consignment, antique

- stores, classified ads, and garage sales.

Save the birds! The second greatest threat to i *I Give old clothes, furniture, and appliances to

migratory songbird species (after loss of habitat) - charities, used equipment dealers, friends, or

is the domesticated housecat. While a bell on your .neighbors.

cat's collar won't necessarily frighten all birds, it's r ,i Purchase and use a reusable coffee filter rather a good start. Situate birdbaths and feeders in than disposable paper filters. places where cats will not have easy access. .

, $: Use razors with replaceable blades rather than disposable razors.

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I I Use reusable containers to store food rather than Saving Water plastic wrap or disposable plastic bags. ,.

Set the wash cycle to the size of the load to save water as well as energy.

~ e c ~ c l i n ~ . When using an automatic dishwasher, wash only . Buy products that are packaged in containers full loads.

that are locally recyclable. For example, buy Turn off the water after you wet your canned soup rather instant which is often over- toothbrush and fill a glass of for water rinsing. packaged in non-recyclable materials.

1 Check faucets throughout the home for'leaks. A m r Recycle paper, aluminum and tin cans, glass small drip can waste 4-5 gallons of water a day! - - containers, and #1 and #2 plastic containers. t

These can be recycled in most subscription At Work .curbside programs, and at Use durable cups and coffee mugs instead of -

3 F Save and reoycle scrap metals that are generated disposable. around the house (gutters, furniture parts, ete.).

Take shorter showers.

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I Exchange or share books, magazines, and periodicals rather than purchasing them.

Use both sides of paper. ,

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CHOOSE ENVIRONMENTAL

For waste reduction and recycling information or to volunteer, call 8 16-561 - 1'087 or 1-888-895-3605 or visit

Printed on r e ~ ~ c l e d ' ~ a ~ e r .